Arsenal to rest Koscielny against Bayern despite Gabriel injury?

Arsene Wenger has some big choices to make in the next few days about which Arsenal players will be in the starting line up on Tuesday night, when the German Bundesliga champions come to town for the first of two back to back games that will probably decide our fate in the Champions League this season.

The boss admitted after yesterday’s win, as reported by Arsenal.com, that the Premier League game at Watford took full priority and that his team selection did not take Bayern into account. But he also said that winning yesterday was the best way to prepare for this key European game as we will now be confident and on a roll.

Wenger said, “I told you in the press conference that for me the important game was today because I knew that first of all to win today was vital to stay in touch with the top teams. Secondly, the best way to prepare for Tuesday night is to win today.

“I don’t know yet [about rotating] but obviously there is no obvious reason to change completely the team. Maybe one or two I do not know yet. We will have to see how everybody recovers. I could rest a little bit Ozil and Sanchez and we have of course to put pace into this game and play against a big team, but we know we have proved ourselves in the Champions League. We want to make something special against Bayern Munich as it is the only way we can keep in the race.”

The Frenchman also revealed that the injury problem, supposedly some minor surgery, that kept Gabriel out of the matchday squad this weekend would not rule him out of the UCL clash. Le Prof said: “He should be available for Tuesday. He had a good training session before we left at our training ground and he looks alright.” That is great news for Arsenal and I expect to see the Brazilian defender come back into the side. I don´t think he will rest many players, but Laurent Koscielny will surely be one of them.

While Wenger did not have one eye on Bayern, he will have one eye on Everton, our next Premier League opponents, and the league games to come. With Koscielny having just returned from a hamstring problem and with the France international having struggled with niggling problems in recent years, I cannot see Wenger risking his best defender. Can you?

Tags Koscielny Munich Wenger

11 Comments

  1. Kos is a key man at the back, just thinking about that prospect against bayern munich really happening is just madness to me!

  2. Fielding the top team we can is obviously a priority…
    But the same fans who seem to preach that, are the same ones who will relentlessly berate Wenger if an injury occurs or we pull up sluggish and drop points against a very organized, hard-working Everton..
    Watford gave us their all for a solid 60 minutes. It wasn’t a routine victory by any stretch and we had to work for it. Personally, if Sanchez hasn’t pulled up that well I’d like to see Giroud and Theo given a run together. Bayern get their strength from being so compact with relentless pressure, it will definitely be a struggle to win the midfield battle. Having both of them provides a physical outlet and a counter-attacking threat if our passing game is being stifled…

  3. Listen Baby Please

    Koscielny is the Boss man of our defense
    We must play him if he is fit enough
    We can rest him against Everton but not Bayern
    Bayern could destroy us without Koscielny

  4. It’s a big decision so I’m guessing AW hasn’t fully made his mind up yet. Which is fine — the more he thinks it through, the better he does. Thoughtful pragmatism have served him and the club well which is why many of us would like to see more of it, I guess. There seems to be a different gear to AW at the moment, which I’m sure we’ll all agree is a massive plus.

    The last three Premier League matches have all been tough in their own ways and have all been won by 3 goal margins with different tactical arrangements. If he makes his decision-making process into a public mind game… Well, that’s the 21st century manager and it’s fine by many of us!

  5. @classy Yes. Except for Ox. Iboove the guy and his talent and will. But he has proven costly to us in previous crucial games for example monaco . And I haven’t seen him improve that defensive skill. I don’t think it would be wise to play him.
    My changes would be Gabriel for Per and Giroud for Walcott. I think theo s pace being a sub would be beneficial.
    But hey all I’m allskig wenger is not to change too many players cuz that strategy has been too expensive

  6. If this happens Wenger is throwing the CL this year in favor of the PL title challenge. Let’s be honest the chances of us getting more than 3 points out of this double clash are very small so you’d have to wonder if it’s a good thing to risk your best players furthermore.

    The other two games will ultimately provide a great chance for other players if we don’t get at least 4 points from Bayern.

    1. Teams (us included ) have progressed to the knock out stages with as much as 7 points some times.
      If we beat bayern at home and the get serious about beating the other two…that would be 9.

  7. Arsenal will beat baryen Munich this time round. No doubt. I suggest two major changes.
    Gabriel for BFG
    OX for Ramsey.
    Early two goals will silence not only bayern team but the world at large. With Alexis and Ozil on heat, it’s either firefighters to quench our team or 3 goals for the Gunners.
    Let’s rally behind this formidable squad and success will be for the GUNNERS.
    WALCOTT

    ALEXIS OZIL OX

    CARZOLA
    LE COQ
    MONREAL BELLERIN
    KOS GABRIEL
    CECH

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